Stitch puller



30, 1952 E. L. SELBY 2,623,729

STITCH FULLER Filed Sept. 19, 1950 2 SX-IEETS-Sl-IEET 1 .gmummnmu IN VENTOR. E'ASTOJVL. fins Dec. 30, 1952 E. L. SELBY 2,623,729-

STITCH FULLER Filed Sept. 19, 1950 2 SI-IEETS SI-IEET .2

INVENTOR. .E'dqazvl. 6251356 HTTOENZ'E/I Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to a stitch puller, and more particularlyto an inexpensive and simple, yet highly efiective, device forwithdrawing metal-wire stitches (sometimes called staples) from books,magazines, pamphlets, and the like (hereinafter referred to generally asbooks) In the manufacture of many books, the leaves are gathered intoproper order, either manually or mechanically, and then while the leavesare maintained in such order, they are secured together by drivingU-shaped metal-wire stitches therethrough and clinching the free ends ofthe legs of said stitches on the remote side of the stack of leaves. Itsometimes happens that the leaves are gathered in improper order, orthat one or more of the leaves of the stack may slip out of properregistry before the stitches are driven. For these or other reasons, itis occasionally, and sometimes frequently, necessary to withdraw theclinched stitches to permit reclamation of the improperly-stitched stackof leaves. Sometimes withdrawal of the stitches is necessary for stillother reasons.

Successful withdrawal of such stitches, es pecially from relativelythick books, without preliminary unclinching of the leg ends thereof, isan arduous task when performed with pliers or with an unguided pryingtool; and removal of stitches with such tools almost inevitably resultsin some damage to the cover or the top leaf of the stitched stack. It isthe primary object of my invention to provide a simple and inexpensivemechanism which can be used by relatively unskilled persons to performthe withdrawing operation with a minimum of exertion, a minimum ofdamage to the books being reclaimed, and a maximum of speed.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of stitch puller constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough showing the device inoperation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof seen from the left of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form oflever forming a part of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view thereof; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the inventionspecifically intended for pulling saddle-type stitches.

Referring more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, I have shown a base plate It provided at one edge withan upturned abutment wall II, a tongue I2 being allowed to remain in theplane of the plate IEI, leaving a cut-out or interruption It in thelength of the wall II. The plate is preferably provided with a pair ofperforations Iii, and the tongue I2 is provided with a perforation I2through which fastening devices may be projected to secure the baseplate to a bench or table 53, if desired.

A top plate It is provided with a downturned flange I5 which, as is mostclearly to be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, overlaps the wall II and is securedthereto by bolts, screws, or other equivalent fastening means I6 toretain the top plate I14 in substantial spaced parallelism with the baseplate Iil. The flange I5 is cutaway, as at H, and the top plate It issimilarly cut away or notched to define separated sections I8 and I9; orthe top plate I l and flange It may comprise two completely separatesections, as shown. At any rate, the formation of the top plate is suchas to define spaced, parallel, mutually-facing walls or edges 20 and 2I.

A carriage or frame, indicated generally by the reference numeral 22,comprises a presser plate 23 having an edge 2'; disposed substantiallyin guiding engagement with the abutment wall II, said edge 24 beinginterrupted by a slot or notch 25. Located on opposite sides of saidnotch are d upstanding frame members which, in the illustratedembodiment of the invention, take the form of parallel plates 26 and 21rigidly fixed to the presser plate 23. Each plate 26 and 21 is formedwith a downwardly-opening slot 23 so located that, when the edge 24 ofthe presser plate 23 engages the inner surface of the wall II, thenotches 28 embrace or straddle said wall, as is most clearly illustratedin Fig. 2. Thereby, the carriage is guided for rectilinear vertical.reciprocation with respect to the base plate Iii.

A pin 29 spans the space between the plates 26 and 21, its opposite endspenetrating suitably formed perforations in the respective plates, andsaid pin being held against axial movement by cotter pins or the like,39, 38, passing through the pin and respectively engaging the plates 26and 21.

A lever 3!, provided with a stitch-engaging toe 32 at one end thereof,is formed, near that end, with a slot 33 elongated in the direction oflength of the lever. The transverse dimension of the slot 33 issubstantially equal to the diameter of the pin 29; and said lever issupported upon the carriage 22, by passage of the pin 26 through saidslot, for oscillatory and transaxial movement relative to the fixed axisof the pin 29. At its end opposite the toe 32, the lever is providedwith a handle 35.

In each of the plates 26 and 21, between the location of the pin 29 andthe slot 28, there is formed a vertically elongated guideway slot 35. Apin 35, preferably of the same diameter as the pin 29, has its oppositeends received in the slots 35 of the respective p ates 26 and 21, thetransverse dimensions of said slots corresponding to the diameter of thepin, whereby said pin 36 is guided for vertical-reciprocation relativeto the plates 25 and 2'! and the pin 29. Spacer sleeves 31 and 33 areloosely mounted on the pin 36 between the lever SI and the plates 26 and21, respectively, thereby restraining said lever against movementaxially of the pin 29 and restricting it to movement substantially in asingle plane approximately midway between the planes of the plates 26and 21. The opposite end portions of the pin 35 extend past the plates26 and 21, washers 39 and 45 being loosely mounted on the pin outsidethe respective plates and being held in position axially of the pin bycotter pins 4| and 42, or similar equivalent means. The length of theslot 33 exceeds the maximum distance between the pins 29 and 36 so that,regardless .of the oscillatory position of the lever 3|, it may be freefor limited transaxial movement relative to the pin 29.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown one conventional form of stitched book 43in place in my stitch puller. plate 23 strikes the under surface of thetop plate M. Then a book 43, of any thickness up to the maximum distancebetween the base plate It and the presser plate 23, may be insertedbetween said plates and pressed against the abutment -w-all A stitch 44to be pulled will be located in registry with the notch 25. Now thecarriage 22 will be permitted to drop until the plate 23 is supportedupon the book 453.

Now, with the lever 3| fully retracted toward the right, the lever willbe moved in a counterclockwise direction to bring its toe 32 intoengagement with the top surface of the book 43, just to the right of thestitch 44 as viewed in Fig. 2. Now, the lever is moved to the left,exerting such downward pressure as may be necessary through the toe 32,to force the toe 32 beneath the transverse base portion of the stitch44, the parts thus assuming the relative positions illustrated in Figs.2 and 3. Now, by downward pressure on the'handle 34, the lever 3| willbe caused to rock in a clockwise direction about the axis of the pin 29,thereby exerting a direct, upward pull upon the stitch 42. At the sametime, the book 43 is held down, since the entire reactive force exertedupon the lever 3| is transmitted to the book 43 through the presserplate 23. The carriage 22 is prevented from rocking first by the factthat the lever 3| may rock freely upon the pin 29, and second by thefact that the plate 23 extends well to the right of the axis of the pin29. The handle portion 34 of the lever being much farther from the axisof oscillation of the lever than is the toe 32, the user is given, ofcourse, a very substantial mechanical advantage over the stitch 46, sothat it is easy for the user to exert such force upon the stitch as willcause the free ends of the legs 35 and 46 thereof to be unclinched fromthe remote surface of the book,

The carriage 22 may be lifted until the invention, the finger 49 isprovided with depending lateral skirt portions 55 through which passes apivot pin 5| mounted in the lever near the toe 32. The adjacent end 52of the finger 49 is bifurcated, its furcations 53 and 54 substantiallyregistering with the lateral edges of the toe 32 so that, when thefinger end 52 is pressed toward the toe 32', the shoulders 4'! and 43 ofa stitch 44 will be gripped between the furcations 53 and E4 of thefinger end 52, and the toe 32.

The opposite arm 55 of the finger t3 extends back over a portion of thelever 3| and curves downwardly below said lever, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 4. A leaf spring 55, anchored at 5'! on the lever, bears uponthe finger arm 55, resiliently holding said finger in the position ofFig. 4, in which the finger end 52 is held out of cooperative relationwith the toe 32 7 Means is provided for forcing the finger end 52 intocooperative relation with the toe 32 against the tendency of the spring56. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a trigger 55 ismounted upon a pivot 59 closely adjacent the handle 34', so that thefree end of the trigger may readily be pulled toward the handle 34' by afinger of the operators hand which engages the handle 34. A link ispivoted at 6| to the extremity of the arm 55 of the finger 49, and ispivoted at 62 to the trigger. Obviously, when the free end of thetrigger 58 is moved toward the handle 34', the finger 49 will be swungin a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 5| against the tendencyof the spring'55 to press the finger end 52 into cooperative relationwith the toe 32 and to grip the shoulders 41 and 48 of a stitch 44 underwhich the toe 32' has theretofore been inserted.

As has been stated, some books are saddle stitched; and the form ofinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 is not particularly well adaptedfor withdrawing saddle stitching. In Fig. 6, I have illustrated amodified form of my invention specifically intended for use inconnection with saddle stitching. According to this phase of theinvention, an anvil 63, of generally inverted V cross section, issuitably secured to a bench 9 or the like with its apex es upwardlypresented. The saddle 65 of a book 55 carrying stitches 51 is supportedupon the apex 54 of the anvil 53 in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 6.

In this form of the invention, the carriage 58 is free, and the presserplate 69 is formed as an inverted V with its apex l0 upwardly presented.A slot 'H intersects the apex 10 of said presser plate. Plate-like framemembers [2 and 13 are fixed to said presser plate on opposite sides ofthe notch H, and extend upwardly therefrom. A pin M is supported by saidframe members upon a fixed axis parallel to the apex E0 of the presserplate and passes through a slot 15 in a lever '55 to support said leverfor oscillatory and transaxial movement relative to said pin. Thestitch-engaging toe ll of the lever 15 is adapted to be projectedthrough the slot "H, and the lever 5 is guided by a pin T9 mounted inslots J8 in the plates 12 and 13, as :in the previously-describedembodiment of theinvention.

With the book 65 in its illustrated position, the presser plate 69 isrested upon the saddle 66 of said book, which, in turn, is supportedupon the anvil 63, the slot H registering with one of the stitches 61.The 'V-shape of the presserplate and the anvil will assist in holdingthe carriage 68 against movement relative to the book while the lever H3is operated, in the manner hereinabove described, to insert the toe 11beneath the base-f the stitch 61 and to withdraw said stitch.

Obviously, the form of lever ill-ustratedin Figs. t and may besubstituted for the specific lever 16 in the organization of Fig. 6, ifdesired.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stitch puller comprising parallel upright frame members, a rodsupported in said members upon a fixed axis and spanning the spacebetween said members, a lever having a stitchengaging toe, said leverbeing formed with a slot elongated in the direction of length of saidlever but having a width substantially equal to the diameter of saidrod, said lever being mounted between said frame members by passage ofsaid rod through said slot, each of said frame members being formed toprovide a guideway spaced from said rod axis and elongated in adirection transverse to a line joining said rod axis with said guideway,and an element supported in said guideways and traversing the spacebetween said frame members in substantial parallelism with said rod,said element being movable longitudinally of said guideways and passingthrough said lever slot, said element being provided with means engagingsaid lever and said frame member to restrict movement of said levertoward either of said frame members.

2. The stitch puller of claim 1 in which the length of said slot exceedsthe maximum distance between said rod and said element.

3. The stitch puller of claim 1 in which said element comprises a secondrod having a diameter substantially equal to that of said first namedrod and having its opposite end portions supported and guided in saidguideways, respectively, and a spacer sleeve loosely mounted on saidsecond rod on each side of said lever, each spacer sleeve having adiameter exceeding the width of said slot and having a lengthsubstantially equal to the distance from said lever to the adjacentframe member.

4. The stitch puller of claim 1 in which said guideways are slotspenetrating said frame members, respectively, and said element comprisesa second rod having a diameter substantially equal to that of saidfirst-named rod and having its opposite end portions passing through andsupported and guided in said guideway slots, respectively, a spacersleeve loosely mounted on said second rod on each side of said lever,each spacer sleeve having a diameter exceeding the Width of said leverslot and having a length substantially equal to the distance from saidlever to the adjacent frame member, and stop means at each end or" saidsecond rod outside the adjacent frame member to restrict axial movementof said second rod.

5. A stitch puller comprising a base including an upright abutment, acarriage including a presser member substantially parallel with saidbase, a pair of upright, spaced frame members secured to said pressermember and substantially perpendicular to said abutment, each framemember being formed with a slot opening toward said base and slidablyembracing said abutment, fulcrum means spanning said frame members andsupported thereby on an axis fixed relative to said :frame members, anda lever supported on said fulcrum for oscillatory and transaxialmovement relative thereto, saidlever having a stitchengaging toe movablepast the plane of said presser member toward said base.

6. The stitch'puller of claim 5 in which each frame member is formed toprovide .a guideway substantially parallel with said slots, and a guideelement supported in said guideways and cooperating with .said lever andsaid frame members to define the plane of movement of said lever.

7. A. stitch puller comprising a base plate having an upstanding wall atone edge thereof, a top plate supported from said wall, spaced from saidbase plate and substantially parallel therewith, said top plate havingtwo sections separated in the direction of length of said wall, acarriage comprising two substantially parallel frame members separatedin the direction of length of said wall and mounted between said topplate sections for guidance therebetween, a pre'sser plate bridging saidframe members and secured thereto, said presser plate being locatedbetween said base plate and said top plate, each frame member beingformed with a slot opening toward said base plate and slidably embracingsaid wall, fulcrum means spanning said frame members and supportedthereby on an axis fixed relative to said frame members, and a leversupported on said fulcrum for oscillatory and transaxial movementrelative thereto, said lever having a stitch-em gaging toe movablepastthe plane of said presser plate toward said base plate.

8. A stitch pull-er comprising a base plate having an upstanding wall atone edge thereof, a top plate supported from said wall, spaced from saidbase plate and substantially parallel therewith, said top plate havingtwo sections separated in the direction of length of said wall, acarriage comprising two substantially parallel frame members separatedin the direction of length of said wall and mounted between said topplate sections for guidance therebetween, a presser plate bridging saidframe members and secured thereto, said presser plate being locatedbetween said base plate and said top plate and having one edge inguiding, slidable engagement with said wall, each frame member beingformed with a slot opening toward said base plate and slidably embracingsaid wall, fulcrum means spanning said frame members and supportedthereby on an axis fixed relative to said frame members, and -a leversupported on said fulcrum for oscillatory and transaxial movementrelative thereto, said lever having a. stitch-engaging toe and saidpresser plate having an opening therethrough located in the plane ofmovement of said lever toe.

9. A stitch puller comprising a presser plate, a pair oflaterally-spaced, upstanding frame members fixed with respect to saidpresser plate, fulcrum means spanning the space between said framemembers and carried by said members upon fixed axis, and a lever havinga stitch engaging toe, said lever being formed with a slot elongated inthe direction of length of said lever and supported on said fulcrummeans by passage of said fulcrum means through said slot, said presserplate being formed with an opening therethrcugh to permit passage ofsaid lever toe therethrough and said presser plate further beingsubstantially V-shaped in cross section, the

apex of the V being upwardly directed and being intersected by saidopening.

10. In combination, an anvil of substantially inverted V cross sectionadapted to support the saddle region of a saddle-stitched book, apresser plate of corresponding cross section adapted to rest upon thesaddle region of such a book when the latter is supported on said anvil,said p-resser plate being formed with an opening therethroughintersecting its apex and adapted to register, when said presser plateso rests on a book, with a stitch seated in said book, frame membersfixed to said presser plate on opposite sides of said opening projectingbeyond said presser Plate apex, fulcrum means supported by, and spanningthe space between, said frame members upon an axis fixed relative tosaid frame members, and a lever having a stitch-engaging toe projectiblethrough said opening, said lever being provided with a slot therethroughelongated in the direction of length of said lever, said fulcrum meansbeing seated in said slot to support said lever for oscillatory andtransaxial movement about said axis.

11. In combination, an anvil of substantially inverted V cross sectionadapted to support the saddle region of a saddle-stitchedbook, a presserplate of corresponding cross section adapted to rest upon the saddleregion of such a book when the latter is supported on said anvil, saidpresser plate being formed with an opening therethrough intersecting.its apex and adapted to register, when said presser plate so rests on abook, with a stitch seated in said book, frame members fixed to saidpresser plate on opposite sides of said opening projecting beyond saidpresser plate apex, fulcrum means supported by, and spanning the spacebetween, said frame members upon an axis substantially parallel withsaid presser plate axis and fixed relative to said frame members, alever having a stitch-engaging toe projectible through said opening,said lever being provided with a slot therethrough elongated in thedirection of length of said lever, said fulcrum means being seated insaid slot to support said lever for oscillatory and transaxial movementabout said axis, and guide means supported by, and spanning the spacebetween, said frame members, said guide means being seated in said leverslot and being movable relative to said frame members as said leveroscillates about said fulcrum axis, said guide means coacting with saidlever and with said frame members to restrict movement of said leveraxially of said fulcrum means.

12. A stitch puller comprising frame means, a fixed fulcrum supported onsaid frame means, a lever having a stitch-engaging toe, said lever beingformed with a slot elongated in the direction of length of said leverand supported on said fulcrum by engagement of said fulcrum in saidslot, guide means for said lever likewise engaging in said slot, saidguide means being movably supported in said frame means for movementrelative to said frame means and said fulcrum during swinging movementof said lever about said fulcrum, a finger pivotally mounted on saidlever and overlying said toe, and means for forcibly pressing saidfinger toward said toe to grip a stitch engaged by said toe.

13. The stitch puller of claim 12 including means resiliently urgingsaid finger away from said toe.

14. A stitch puller comprising frame means, a fixed fulcrum supported onsaid frame means, a lever having a stitch-engaging toe, said lever beingformed with a slot elongated in the direction of length of said leverand supported on said fulcrum by engagement of said fulcrum in saidslot, guide means for said lever likewise engaging in said slot, saidguide means being movably supported in said frame means for movementrelative to said frame means and said fulcrum during swinging movementof said lever about said fulcrum, a finger pivotally mounted on saidlever with one end overlying said toe, said lever having a handle remotefrom said toe, a trigger pivotally supported on. said lever near saidhandle, and a link pivotally connected with said finger and said triggerwhereby movement of said trigger toward said handle swings said onefinger end toward said toe to grip a stitch engaged by said toe.

15. A stitch puller comprising frame means, a fixed fulcrum supported onsaid frame means, a lever having a stitch-engaging toe, said lever beingformed with a slot elongated in the direction of length of said leverand supported on said fulcrum by engagement of said fulcrum in saidslot, guide means for said lever likewise engaging in said slot, saidguide means being movably supported in said frame means for movementrelative to said frame means and said fulcrum during swinging movementof said lever about said fulcrum, a finger, pivot means supported onsaid lever adjacent said toe and supporting said finger intermediate itsends with a portion of said finger on one side of said pivot meansoverlying said toe, a spring carried by said lever and engaging aportion of said finger on the other side of said pivot means to urgesaid first-named finger portion away from said toe, said lever having ahandle remote from said toe, a trigger pivotally supported on said levernear said handle, and a link pivotally connected with said last-namedportion of said finger and with said trigger whereby movement of saidtrigger toward said handle swings said finger, against the tendency ofsaid spring, to move said first-named finger portion toward said toe togrip a stitch engaged by said toe.

16. A stitch puller comprising frame means, a fixed fulcrum supported onsaid frame means, a lever having a stitch-engaging toe, said lever beingformed with a slot elongated in the direction of length of said leverand supported on said fulcrum by engagement of said fulcrum in saidslot, guide means for said lever likewise engaging in said slot, saidguide means being movably supported in said frame means for movementrelative to said frame means and said fulcrum during swinging movementof said lever about said fulcrum, a finger pivotally mounted on saidlever and having a bifurcated end overlying said toe, the furcations ofsaid finger end registering with the lateral edge regions of said toe,and means for forcibly pressing said finger end toward said toe to gripa stitch engaged by said toe.

ES'ION L. SELBY.

REFERENflES CITED The following references are of record in-the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,166,419 Allan Jan. 4, 19161,908,175 Osborne May 9, 1933 2,266,12 l Lyon Dec. 16, 1941 2,329,562Stensrud Sept. 13, 1943

